Effects of Multi-extracts of Mori Folium and of Exercise on Serum Lipid Profiles and Tissue Differentiation in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

This research was performed to investigate the effects of the supplementation of multi-extracts of mori folium (MF) and of exercise on blood lipid profiles and tissue differentiation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The animal groups consisted of a normal-control group, a STZ-control group, three STZ-induced diabetic groups supplemented ad libitum with various amounts of MF extracts (MF-720, MF-360, and MF-180 groups), and a STZ-induced diabetic group supplemented with MF-360 combined with exercise; eight male Sprague-Dawley rats, 4 weeks old, were assigned to each experimental group and were raised in the laboratory for a 10 week experimental period. The MF supplementation group showed a significant reduction in levels of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride compared to the STZ-control group. HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the MF supplementation group compared to STZ-control group. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol was significantly higher in MF supplementation group compared to the STZ-control group. The Atherogenic Index (AI) values in the MF supplementation groups were found to be significantly lower than in the STZ-control group. Serum AST and ALT levels were significantly reduced in the MF-supplementation groups compared to the STZ-control group. Total cholesterol level in the liver tissue was significantly decreased in the MF-360 group and in the MF-360 + exercise group compared to the STZ-control group. In immunohistochemical staining of the pancreatic islets of the MF-supplemented groups, a significantly higher number of insulin-immunoreactive cells were observed compared to the STZ-control group. In the MF supplementation groups, Bowman's capsules were clearly observed as hypertrophy of the glomeruli was not obvious. In the MF supplementation groups, a relative reduction in the hypertrophy of the basement membrane of the glomeruli and a significant reduction in the mesangium were observed compared to the STZ-control group. The results of this study suggest that supplementation of MF has beneficial effect in improving plasma lipid and tissue metabolism in streptozotocin-induced rats.